Games Of The Week

One of sport's most enduring games this year may get viewing competition from morning cartoons, although it is important for at least two reasons: Michigan needs to win to become bowl-eligible; and the Rose Bowl wants Ohio State to assure at least one top-10 team for its Jan. 1 game.

The pick: Ohio State.

California (7-3) at

No. 14 Stanford (7-3)

Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Versus

The 112th Big Game is as interesting as it has been in years. Stanford has scored 106 points in its last two games, victories against Oregon and USC, and now takes on a very formidable cross-bay rival. Stanford leads the series, 55-45-11, but Cal has won four of its last five games this year after being wiped out by Oregon and USC in consecutive games.

The pick: Stanford.

No. 11 Oregon (8-2)

at Arizona (6-3)

Saturday, 5 p.m., Channel 7

Pacific 10 leader Oregon needs closing victories against Arizona and Oregon State to clinch its first Rose Bowl berth since the 1994 season, but Tucson is the place where the Ducks' major bowl dreams were shattered two years ago. Arizona has suffered two conference losses in which the Wildcats were felled by freakish bounces. The pick: Oregon.